skin flap

A skin flap is a surgical procedure used in reconstructive surgery to cover defects where a significant amount of tissue, including skin and underlying fat or muscle, has been lost due to trauma or surgical removal. Unlike a skin graft, which only transfers skin, a flap includes deeper tissues and maintains its own blood supply from the donor site, which is kept adjacent to the recipient area.12

This procedure is particularly valuable when bone, nerve, or tendon is exposed, or when a larger area needs coverage than a simple skin graft can provide. Flaps can be local, meaning tissue is moved from a nearby area, or free, where tissue is taken from another part of the body. The choice of flap depends on the amount and type of tissue needed and the available blood supply.2